Launch of a HEXAGON Spy Satellite

Force Base, Calif., in this National Reconnaissance Office image. Less «

15 of 33

HEXAGON Spy Satellite: Rear View

Credit: Roger Guillemette/SPACE.com

A rear view of the massive KH-9 Hexagon spy satellite on display at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, after being declassified…Read More »

on Sept. 17, 2011. Often referred to as "Big Bird," the KH-9 Hexagons were the largest spacecraft ever launched from California's Vandenberg AFB, each as big as a school bus, 60 feet in length and weighing 30,000 pounds at launch. Twenty KH-9 Hexagons were launched by the National Reconnaissance Office between 1971 and 1986. Less «

16 of 33

HEXAGON Spysat Rear Engine View

Credit: Roger Guillemette/SPACE.com

A close look at the rear engine used on the National Reconnaissance Office's HEXAGON spy satellites during a display at the National Air and Space Museum's…Read More »

NRO's HEXAGON Spysat Flight Profile

This graphic from a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office document depicts the flight profile of the massive HEXAGON spy satellite missions that flew from June 1971 to April 1986.

18 of 33

Imaging Technique of HEXAGON Spysats

Credit: NRO

This NRO image released on Sept. 17, 2011 shows the imaging field of view of the HEXAGON spy satellites, which were used on 20 space reconnaissance missions between 1971 and 1986.

19 of 33

NRO's HEXAGON Spysat Field of View

Credit: NRO

This image taken from a now-declassified National Reconnaissance Document illustrates the field of view of the HEXAGON spy satellites that flew on 20 missions between 1971 and 1986.

20 of 33

Launch of a GAMBIT 1 Spy Satellite

Credit: NRO

This NRO-provided image shows the launch of the GAMBIT 1 spy satellite on Mission G13 on Oct. 23, 1964 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

21 of 33

GAMBIT Spy Satellite Unveiled

Credit: Roger Guillemette/SPACE.com

An overhead view of the KH-7 GAMBIT spy satellite, prior to its public unveiling at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, on…Read More »

Sept. 17, 2011 after being declassified. The once top-secret spacecraft was displayed as part of the National Reconnaissance Office's 50th anniversary gala being held at the Center this evening. Thirty-eight KH-7 missions were launched from July 1963 to June 1967; its then-classified missions provided high-resolution photographic imaging of targets in the former Soviet Union and China. Less «

22 of 33

Close-Up View of a GAMBIT Spy Satellite

Credit: Roger Guillemette/SPACE.com

A closeup into the inner wokrings of an KH-7 GAMBIT spy satellite design used by the National Reconnaissance Office between 1963 and 1984 during a one-day…Read More »

display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport, Va., on Sept. 17, 2011. The NRO declassified the GAMBIT 1 and GAMBIT 3 satellite programs on the same day. Less «

23 of 33

GAMBIT 1 Spy Satellite Mission Description

Credit: NRO

The National Reconnaissance Office's GAMBIT 1 spy satellite missions launched between 1963 and 1967. A total of 38 satellites were launched, with 10 of…Read More »

them failing. At mission's end, each satellite would drop a re-entry capsule containing its onboard film. The canister was snagged in midair by a recovery aircraft. Less «

24 of 33

Launch of a GAMBIT 3 Spy Satellite

Credit: NRO

This image from a National Reconnaissance Office document shows the launch of a GAMBIT 3 spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Dec. 14, 1966 atop a Titan 3B rocket.

25 of 33

GAMBIT 1 Spy Satellite Imaging Technique

Credit: NRO

This diagram from a declassified NRO document shows the imaging coverage area of the GAMBIT 1 spy satellite series, which was used on 38 U.S. space reconnaissance…Read More »

missions between 1963 and 1967. The satellites had a resolution of between 2 and 3 feet, NRO officials say. Less «

26 of 33

KH-7 GAMBIT Spy Satellite: Side View

Credit: Roger Guillemette/SPACE.com

A side view of a KH-7 GAMBIT spy satellite on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport, Va., on Sept. 17, 2011.

27 of 33

GAMBIT 1 Spy Satellite Design

Credit: NRO

This image, taken from a declassified National Reconnaissance Office document, shows a depiction of the GAMBIT 1 spy satellite, a space reconnaissance…Read More »

platform design used for 54 missions between 1963 and 1967. The satellites launched atop Atlas D rockets equipped with Agena D upper stages from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Less «

28 of 33

GAMBIT 3 Spy Satellite Flight Profile

Credit: NRO

This image shows the flight profile for the NRO's GAMBIT 3 spy satellite missions between 1966 and 1984. A total of 54 missions were launched, with four…Read More »

failures. Like the CORONA and GAMBIT 1 satellites, GAMBIT 3 craft snapped reconnaissance photos, then sent Less «

29 of 33

KH-7 GAMBIT Satellite Nose Cone

Credit: Roger Guillemette/SPACE.com

A look at the re-entry nose cone of a KH-7 GAMBIT spy satellite, the same type used by the National Reconnaissance Office to spy on the Soviet Union, China…Read More »